Railway mail-crane



A. HUPP.

RAILWAY MAIL CRANE.` A- PFLICATION FILED JAM. 25` i915.

Patented 0st. 5, 192

2 ShEETS-SHEET 2 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ALBERT HUPP, OF WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, ASCIGNOR TO HUPP AUTO-MATIC MAIL EXCHANGE COMPANY, OF XVASHINGTQN, EJISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, A

CORPORATION OF DELAWARE.

RAILWAY MAIL-CRANE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 5, 1920.

Application led January 25, 1915. Serial No. 4,239.

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, ALBERT HUPP, a citizen of the United States ofAmerica, and resident of Vashington, in the District of Columbia, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Railway Mail- Oranes, ofwhich the following is a specication. This invention relates to mailexchange apparatus and more particularly to the station crane forsupporting the mail bag in Vposition to be delivered to a passing train.

One of the objects of the invention is to provide an improvedconstruction in which the bag supporting arms are held in position todeliver a bag by means which is automatically released when the bag isdelivered and permits the arms to be swung away from the track. Afurther object is to provide a crane in which the parts are so arrangedthat the swinging of the arms away from the track is effected by gravityand in which the parts are so arranged that there is always a tendencyfor the arms to be swung away, this tendency being overcome by a latchwhich is controlled by the mail bag so that upon the delivery of the bagthe latch will be automatically released and the force of gravitypermitted to operate on the parts to swing the arms.

Other objects and the features of novelty will be apparent from thefollowing description, taken in connection with the accompanyingdrawings, in which:

Figure 1 is an elevation of a mail receiving trough and the mail cranesupported on a suitable framework above the trough;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged plan view of the mail crane Fig. 3 is an enlargedsectional view on the line 3 3 of Fig. 1;'

Fig. 4 is a longitudinal section of the part shown in Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a. section on the line 5-5 of Fi 3;

Fig. 6 is a vertical section on the line 6-6 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 7 is a bottom plan of the part shown in Fig. 6, certain parts beingshown in section.

Referring to the drawings, 10 indicates a mail receiving trough which isspecially adapted for use in connection with that character of mailexchange system described in my Reissue Patent No. 13,716, granted April21, 1914:. Arranged on a platform 11, above the trough 10, is a hollowpost 12 in which a vertical tube 13 is rotatably supported and alsoadapted to move up and down. The post 12 has a bottom fiange 14 and isalso lsupported by means of braces 15. At the upper end of the tube 13,there is a split bracket 16 which is clamped to the tube 13 and one-halfof which carries the cover plate 17 closing the upper end of the tube.rlhe bracket 16 has secured therein a tubular arm 18, A split bracket 19is also secured to the tube 13 and carries a tubular arm 20.

At the upper end of the post 12, there is a flange or cam track 21having the inclined portion 22 on the side of the post adjacent therailway track and also an inclined portion 23 on the opposite side ofthe post. The bracket 19 is provided with downwardly eX- tending arms24: which carry a roller 25, this roller being arranged to engage thetrack 21. When the arms 18 and 2O are in position to deliver a bag to apassing train the roller 25 is adjacent to the upper end or peak of theinclined part 22 of the cam track, as shown in Fig. 3. It will beunderstood that the roller 25 may be in the position shown in Fig. 3 orin a similar position on the opposite side of the peak of the incline.When the parts are in this position the action of gravity on the tube 13and the parts supported thereby tends to cause the roller 25 to run downthe incline 22 and thereby swing the arms 18 and 2() away from therailway track. When the roller 25 descends the incline 22, the partsgain such momentum that it is desirable to stop the rotation and thuspreventA the arms from swinging clear around and starting up theopposite side of the incline 22. For the purpose of stopping therotation, the incline 23 is provided. From Figs. 3 and 4, it will beevident that the incline 23 is lower than the incline 22, and in theoperation of the mechanism it has been found that the tube 13 willrotate a suiicient distance to cause the roller 25 to run up the incline23 and then run back a short distance and come to rest with the arms 18and 20 arranged substantially parallel with the railway track ordirected at a slight angle to the rear of the axis of thepost 12.

,Figsf3 and.4, it is necessary to have some means for locking the tube13 to the post V12 in order to hold the arms 18 and 20 in position todeliver a bag to a passingtrain.

In the embodiment of the invention shown,

this*holding'meansaconsists of a latch 26 having av substantiallychisel-shaped edge which is adapted to engage an-opening 27 in the post12. The latch 26 is arranged in a transverse tube 28 A'secured in the.tube 13 and a spring 29 ynormally tends to withdraw the latch vfrom theopening 27. A lever 30 pivoted in the tube 13 at 31 has its lower end inengagement with the latch 26 as shown in Fig. 4. The upper end of thelever 30 has pivotally connected therewith a rod 32 arranged in the arm18. The outer end of the rod 32`is telescoped with a mem-ber 33 which isslidably arranged in the outer end of the -arm v18. The rod 32 hassecured thereona collar34and between this collar andthe member 33 thereis a spring 35.

A collar 36 is clamped on the outer end of the arm 18. and has pivotedthereto the bag grippers'37'and'38. The forward ends of the grippers 37and 38 are arranged substantially in'yalinement with the forward end ofthe member 33when the parts are in the' position shown in Figs. 6 and7.V The rearward ends of' the grippers 37 and 38v are provided with eyesthrough which a rod 39 passes. A spring 40.is coiled on the rod 39 andnormally ,forces the rearward ends of the grippers apart so asto effecta pinching movement of the forwardiends of the grippers. The movement.or the grippers underthe influence ofthe spring 40 may be limited inanyA suitable manner as by means of the adjustable stop screws 41 whichare carried by a .box 42 arranged over the grippers andadapted toprotect the mechanism from the weather. The box 42 is supported by thetube 18 and by the collar 36.and is secured to the latter by asuitablebolt 43.

Inv order to provide for opening the grippers 36 and 37,`fso,as.topermit attachment lof a mail bag, I have provided a rotatable member44 which is supported by the tube 18 and the boX 42 and. is connectedwith the grippers 37 and 38'by means oi' links 45 and 46 "respectively,yTheupper `part47 of the member 44 isangular in shape .to provide 'fortheattachment of a wrenchthereto by means of which the 'member v441 maybe turned so as to draw Vtherearward ends of the grippers 37 and 38toward each other.

It lwill :beevident Jr'romgFig. 7 that the links 45 and 46 are'so,curved as to permit the .member 44 to rotate slightly; more than 90o InFig. 1, a bag 48 is shown in position vto be delivered .Ito apassingwtrainand .it will be noted that in order to insert the upperend-of the bagbetween thegrippers 37 and 38, the member 33 must be movedtowardxt'he tube 13. Vhen the member 33 is thus moved the bag isinserted between the grippers, and the member 44 rotated to cause thegrippers to seize the bag. The

movement'othemember 33 toward the tube 13 compresses the spring 35,because the rod 32 is normally held against rearward movement by the'engagementof the end of the latch 26 with the' inner surface of the,post-12;' The spring 35' is much stronger f mit the spring 29towi-thdraw the 'latch ,26

from the opening 27, and thereby release the tube 13 and permit thelatter -toirotate The arm'20 has secured thereon avsubstantially'horizontal plate 49 which is providedwith a groove orAdepression 50 which is arranged substantiallyv at right angles to vthearm 20.' The plate 49 is also provided with openings 51 for the Vpassage`of water therethrough. FromFig. 1, it will be evident that the lgroove50 forms a seat for the bottom or thefmail bag 48 and wherein the bagvwill 'be-securely held against displacement byth'ewind or other causes,when the bag is comparatively heavy. 1n the case of a light bag,however, the bottom might be blown out of position on the plate 49 andfor the -purpose of'securing the bottom of such a bag I have provided aguard 52 which is pivoted to the plate 49v and has arms 53 on theunderside of the plate to which springs 54 are attached. The springs 54tend to hold the guard 52 againstthe plate 49 vfor the purpose ofgripping the lower part of the bag. At the same* time the springs permit"the guard-'52 to belifted so that a bagmay be inserted.

For the purpose of orminga more rigid construction a tie rod 55connects'the-'arms 18 and 2O and ispreferably provided with a turnbuckle 56 by means of which the' rod mayy be tightened.

In the operation of the crane,5the normal, inoperative position,; ofthearms 18 andy 2O is over the platform 11f and -the bag 48 is .placed onthe plate 49 and the grippers 37 and 38 opened inthe manner abovedescribed, and then the member 33 pushed vback and the grippers closedon the neel;

of the bag. The arms 18 and 2O are'then swung around to the positionshown in Fig. 1, the latch 26 entering the opening 27 in the post andsecuring the parts in this position. When the bag is removed from thearms 18 and 20 by a passing train, the member 33 is returned to theposition shown in Figs. 6 and 7, and the latch 26 withdrawn from theopening 27. This permits the roller 25 to run down the incline 22 andthus cause the tube 13 and the arms 18 and 20 to swing to theinoperative position. For the purpose of protecting the cam track 21 andthe roller 25 from the weather a shield or apron 57 is provided on thebracket 19.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

1. In a mail crane, the combination of a post, a tube supported thereby,the axes of the tube and post being in alinement, vertically spaced bagsupporting arms secured on said tube, a latch eoacting with said postand the lower part oi' said tube to hold the latterI in position todeliver a bag, a member at the outer end of the upper of said armsarranged to be moved when the bag is attached to said arm, and meansarranged in said arm and said tube and including spring-separatedtelescopic parts for operatively connecting said member and said latch.

.2. In a mail crane, the combination of a post, a tube rotatablysupported thereby, a latch carried by said tube and adapted to engagesaid post to lock the parts together, a spring` for releasing saidlatch, a lever pivotally arranged in said tube and engaging said latch,a bag supporting arm secured to said post, a slidable member carried bysaid arm at the outer end thereof, and a yieldable connection betweensaid slidable member and said lever.

3. In a mail crane, the combination of a bag supporting arm, a rotatablysupported member on which said arm is secured, a pair of pivoted baggrippers at the outer end of said arm, a latch device for holding saidmember with said arm in position to deliver a bag, and actuating meansfor said latch arranged adjacent said grippers and adapted. to preventthe attachment of a bag thereto until said means is moved so as toeffect the actuation of said latch.

t. In a mail crane, the combination of vertically spaced relativelyiiXed bag supporting arms, a rotatable member on which said arms aresecured, a horizontally arranged plate secured to the outer end of thelower of said arms and adapted to form a seat 'for the bag, and means atthe outer end of the upper of said arms for gripping the upper part ofthe bag.

5. In a mail crane, the combination .of vertically spaced relativelyfixed bag supporting arms, a rotatable member on which said arms aresecured, a horizontally arranged plate secured at the outer end of thelower of said arms and adapted to form a seat for the bag, means on saidplate for gripping the bag, and means at the outer end of the upper ofsaid arms for gripping the upper part of the bao'.

6. In a mail crane, the combination of vertically spaced relativelyfixed bag supporting arms, a rotatable member on which said arms aresecured, a horizontally arranged plate secured to the outer end of thelower of said arms and provided with a groove or depression adapted toreceive the bag, and a spring pressed gripper device on said plate forgripping the bag tosecure it in position.

7. In va mail crane, the combination of a post, an inclined cam tracksurrounding said post, a member rotatably supported by said post andhaving means engaging said track, bag supporting arms carried by saidmember, said track being so arranged that said means is in engagementwith the upper part of the incline when said arms are in position todeliver a bag, and releasable means independent of said track and withinsaid member for locking the member to said post when. the means is atthe upper part of the track.

In testimony whereof I al'lix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

ALBERT HUPP. l/Vitnesses B. M. KENT, ARTHUR L. BRYANT.

